I'm taking a vacation and have been swimming in a larger pool (50m) the last few days. I had swum in that same pool before on my other vacations and didn't sense anything unusual. But this time it feels different. Somehow, the water feels "heavy" and hard to pull, and it's difficult to control the body position while swimming (e.g. the body tilted in one direction and it's hard to correct it). At first I thought it was because I had not swum for a week and needed time to get "used" to it again, but the two people who went swimming with me, one of whom had been swimming in that pool often, said they had the same unusual feeling about the water, that it feels somehow "harder" and they got tired sooner than before.
What could be the cause? Even if they had adjusted the chemicals in the pool differently than usual, it's hard to believe it could cause such dramatic effect. This pool is supposed to be ozone disinfected.
I've never experienced the same before. And I'm certain now it's not something to do with my own swimming.
Anyone can shed some light on this mystery? :confused::confused::confused:
(I wonder if this might be close to what swimming in mercury feels like :rolleyes:)
Could be that they have new pumps or that they are now running the pumps while you are swimming. The pumps in a pool I am familiar with create a counter-clockwise current most noticeable in lanes 1 & 8 when set up LCM. SCY it's less noticeable.
What was the temperature like? To me, warmer water feels thicker. Anything above 85 and you feel like you're swimming in soup.
The water temperature was warm, but definitely within normal range (warm enough for most people to say "it's not cold" when getting in, but not warm enough for anyone to say "it's too warm"). I have swum in much warmer pools (including this same one) without feeling unusal.
It could be poor drainage. I've swam in some old pools that feel like they suck me back into the wall due to bad drains.
That sounds interesting. If that's the case, what would be the physical explanation? Lack of flow or the density of the water?
Could be that they have new pumps or that they are now running the pumps while you are swimming. The pumps in a pool I am familiar with create a counter-clockwise current most noticeable in lanes 1 & 8 when set up LCM. SCY it's less noticeable.
Oh, quite possible. One of my fellow swimmers did mention seeing water being pumped the other day (there were also divers training in the deeper end of the pool). But there didn't seem to be difference in different lanes. Any idea why it's more noticeable in LCM than SCY?
That is odd. Maybe you could ask the pool staff if anything has changed?
My only experience of this sort is going from salt water pools to a chlorine pool once a week, my stroke count is higher in the chlorine and the water feels "thin" by comparison.
The only things I'll notice is temperature and if the age group kids are practicing.
Anything above 80 is too warm to me. That is why I can't swim at our local YMCA, its typically kept at like 84-85 for the noodlers (I curse there name). Its like swimming in a baby pool. Ick!
When the age groupers practice while we still have 4 lanes open for lap swimming I can feel them cause a current in the pool. Normal. I can remember that from when I was swimming back then too.
Along with temp and circulation, I've experienced different water feel from:
* chlorine -v- bromine sanitizing (or others)
* balance of chemicals
* hard water (a problem here in AZ)
* salt water
* gutters -v- non
* pool surface (plaster, rock, concrete, pebble tech, other)
* indoor -v- outdoor
I'm sure the list can go on and on....
I notice significant differences from my backyard pool, to the gym pool (inside), to the ASU Rec Center (outside), to the ASU Mona Plummer.
Nancy, it's most likely what you are suggesting. I just went to the pool again and took a good look around while swimming (as hard as last time). There they were, a complex pump system at the corner of the pool (if anyone knows what the Windows screen saver "3D pipes" looks like), with several vertical pipes coming from it inserted into the pool, and water was being pumped from it the whole time. A guy working there told me they were testing a new circulation system and the equipment will be removed in the next few days. I can't wait. :shakeshead:
It's an interesting experience for me. Thank you for helping solving the mystery for me. I now see what challenge I could face if I swim in open water with all the waves in it...
Oh, quite possible. One of my fellow swimmers did mention seeing water being pumped the other day (there were also divers training in the deeper end of the pool). But there didn't seem to be difference in different lanes. Any idea why it's more noticeable in LCM than SCY?
When we're set up for SCY we swim across the width of the pool and there's a mid-pool bulkhead and all the cross-wise lane ropes that damp out the current.
Divers will sometimes get water pumped into the deep end just to bubble up the surface to make it "softer" to land in and also to help them see the water better.
